Luminaras lit the way to Bethlehem last night as visitor to Paradise Ranch experienced a journey like none other in Carlsbad.

One hundred and one actors from Paradise Chapel dressed as biblical characters Wednesday night for the first evening in the "Journey to Bethlehem" interactive production.

Visitors began their journey in the chapel, where Julie Lee, Beth Erader, Abram David and Chloe Lee acted out a scene of a grandmother talking about the Christmas story in Luke 2 with her grandchildren. But before they could finish, a man dressed as a Roman soldier interrupted the scene, saying that everyone needed to leave to be taxed in Bethlehem. He then gave passports to all the visitors and instructed a man dressed as a biblical era Jew to take them away.
From there, visitors became part of the Gaddiel family, Nazarite Jews who were on their way to Bethlehem to be taxed. They walked a dirt road, much like the one Joseph and Mary traveled, and met wisemen, shepherds and angels along the way.

The journey ended at the manger scene, with Mike Walentine and Rikki Lichty playing the parents of the Baby Jesus, whom a group of shepherds came to worship.

Production director Jeri Prentiss' goal for the event was to make it as realistic as possible to make participants feel as if they were actually in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. "The more realistic, the greater the impact," said Prentiss.

Bethlehem visitor Larissa Allen said she liked "Journey" a lot.

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"I didn't think I would like it at first, but I did," she said. Her favorite part, she said, was at the very beginning when the Roman soldier entered the stage. It scared her, she said.

"Journey to Bethlehem" will have it's last production on Dec. 15 on Paradise Ranch. Tours will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

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